Hueco Mundo 1918. . .
Over a century has passed since Fiander arrived in Hueco Mundo. Throughout these years, he has been on a quest to discover the spatial rift of Hueco Mundo and seek an escape.
The monotony here is overwhelming. Besides resting, eating, and playing with Reinhard, there is virtually little else to engage in. As a senior king, Fiander really prefers not to venture out and face dangers.
He remained uncertain about when the narrative timeline would kick off. Initially, he believed that once Kurosaki Ichigo defeated Aizen, Hueco Mundo would find tranquility.
However, the existence of the Quincy loomed over him, keeping a sense of urgency strung tight in his mind. Additionally, after years of honing his skills, he noticed that although his soul was nearly healed, his strength appeared to be hindered by an invisible barrier that he couldn't surpass.
Anyone familiar with the anime understands that racial potential has hit its ceiling. To breach this barrier, he would have to wait for Aizen to utilize Hōgyoku on him to Arrancarize his form and elevate his spirit.
Yet, just the thought of confronting Aizen filled him with a sense of dread. Who is Aizen? He stands as a figure closest to divine.
Even if he was ultimately defeated, Fiander always felt an unsettling tension. An individual as impressive as him falling victim to contrived narrative, ugh—it's unbearable. Fiander has expressed his disdain for the protagonist of this world, as he did in the previous one.
It is unclear when Aizen will come to Hueco Mundo, and boredom has set in, alas—just as Fiander languished in his thoughts, Reinhard, lying outside the cave, seemed to sense something and rushed inside to inform Fiander.
"There is a remarkably strange Reiatsu reaction at the Hollow palace! "
"Night Hollow Palace? ! "
Over the years, Fiander and Reinhardt have inevitably encountered various Menos Grandes, especially the ruler of Hueco Mundo—Baraggan. This individual claims sovereignty over Hueco Mundo, which attracted the interest of a newly ascended Vasto Lorde like Fiander.
Fiander recognized Baraggan's considerable strength, but following a skirmish with the old man some time ago, Baraggan's power had diminished. Nevertheless, he still attempted to command Fiander to submission, leading them to clash repeatedly.
Fiander is confident that he could handle the current Baraggan with merely half of his strength, having become an independent Arrancar, with Reinhardt also nearing the level of Vasto Lorde's Menos Grande.
"At this moment, there's an unusual atmosphere! Could the plot finally be commencing? " Fiander found reassurance in Reinhard's acute sense. Reinhard exhibits extraordinary talent in perception, and Fiander has made efforts to teach him techniques akin to meditation and spiritual rigor.
"Let's go! We need to check it out! "
As Reinhard lowered his upper body, Fiander mounted and the duo began their swift gallop towards Night Hallow Palace.
After a century of relentless training, Reinhard successfully carried Fiander, filling him with immense satisfaction, as the primary reason for reclaiming Reinhard was the need for a reliable mount.
With the landscape blurring in the backdrop, they reached the Night Palace, where Baraggan resided, in a mere ten minutes.
"Stay here and don't approach! I'll proceed alone! " Fiander halted Reinhard roughly five kilometers away from the Night Palace, intending to approach it solo.
He recognized that Aizen's arrival would mean Reinhard's presence would compromise their stealth.
"Don't worry, my lord! " Upon saying this, Reinhard ascended into the air, soaring towards the Night Palace.
As he neared, Fiander concealed his presence, hovering cautiously and peering down.
The scene beneath him unfolded.
Three Shinigami donned in white captain's haori encircled numerous Adjuchas' Menos Grande, with a crowned skeleton perched on a throne before them. One of the Shinigami swiftly executed an Adjuchas with a blade, prompting the leader, a refined bespectacled man, to introduce himself first.
"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Aizen, Aizen Sosuke. " "You must be. . . Baraggan, the King of Hueco Mundo. "
Indeed, it was him, and Fiander realized he had stepped into the anticipated narrative. Suspended in the air, he fought to contain his exhilaration; after many years, he was witnessing a scene he recognized.
"Yes, who might you all be? " Baraggan inquired from the throne, gripping a massive black iron axe and gazing down at the assembly.
"You lack a mask, so you aren't a hollow. Are you a human? Or a Shinigami? Hmph - it doesn't matter what you are; I was simply bored today, and your arrival has alleviated my tedium! "
"Otherwise, I planned to have the Menos Grande below split into two teams to fight each other for my entertainment. "
"In conclusion, I wish to extend my welcome to you, welcome to my castle - Night Hallow Palace! " As Baraggan concluded, one of the three men, blindfolded, scoffed and ridiculed.
"How amusing.Can a place be termed a castle without a roof and walls? "
Baraggan, unfazed by the insult, replied earnestly:
"I require no roof at all. As the king of Hueco Mundo, the entire sky of Hueco Mundo serves as my roof! "
"It appears the king of Hueco Mundo enjoys jesting! " Tousen Kaname started to respond, but Aizen promptly interrupted.
"Alright, yes, it's perfectly acceptable to keep your silence. "
"Understood! " Tousen Kaname nodded and stepped back behind Aizen.
"On another note, King of Hueco Mundo, would you like to witness my sword? "
"This is. . . Kyōka Suigetsu! " As he spoke, Aizen gradually drew his green-handled Zanpakutō from his belt, holding it in an inverted manner as he gazed at Baraggan.
Clearly, Aizen's peculiar actions puzzled Baraggan, the king of Hueco Mundo, who instinctively asked, "What are you aiming to do? "
"I have a question for you."
"A question? "
"Exactly. Are you truly content with your current self? Do you perceive the world around you as different from what it should be? Don't you desire to elevate your existence to a higher plane? " With a flick of his zanpakuto, Aizen's unfeeling gaze was fixed on Baraggan as he declared, "I can assist you; yield to me."
"I will provide you greater power! "
"You mention greater power? "
A hint of skepticism was evident in Baraggan's voice, clearly indicating that he didn't fully grasp Aizen's intentions and sought clarification.
"Precisely! My research is nearing completion. The divisions between Shinigami and Hollow, as well as Hollow and Shinigami, will be transcended, their realms elevated to a previously unachievable level, allowing you to enter this new world. "
Upon finishing his statement, Aizen fixed his gaze on Baraggan, seemingly awaiting a favorable response from him.
After a brief moment of silence, Baraggan erupted into a derisive, maniacal laugh.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Greater power? A whole new world? How utterly preposterous, you insects! "
"I am the sovereign of Hueco Mundo, the ruler of the world; no one can ever surpass me! "
In the air above, hearing Baraggan's declarations, Fiander covered his face out of embarrassment.
"How can this weakling possess such unfounded confidence? It's clear that any Arrancarized Adjuchas right now could easily overpower him." Continuing to observe the unfolding drama, as Baraggan slowly rose, he waved his arms mockingly and proclaimed:
"A new world does not exist."
"Is that so? "
In response to Aizen's taunt, Baraggan swung his arms and commanded the hollows below to attack the three of them, then descended from his throne, swinging the iron axe he wielded at them.